Beaufort Attractions
People come from far and wide to see the Beaufort Historic Site, a 2-acre area with seven beautifully restored buildings in the center of town. Cared for by the Beaufort Historical Association, the site annually hosts nearly 50,000 visitors, who tour the buildings and participate in the tours, classes, workshops and historical re-enactments scheduled throughout the year. This site, along with the Beaufort waterfront, is what makes this little sea port so special and appealing.

Before you begin to look around, go to the Robert W. and Elva Faison Safrit Historical Center at 130 Turner Street. The center welcomes and orients visitors to the historic site with free exhibits, video presentations and demonstrations. If you decide to take any of the tours that charge a fee, the Historical Center is where you pay and meet the tour guide. The Old Beaufort Museum Gift Shop is also here (see our Shopping chapter) as well as loads of information about the town of Beaufort and other not-to-be-missed attractions. The center is open Monday through Saturday 9:30 AM to 5 PM March through November and 10 AM to 4 PM December through February. After a visit to the Safrit Historical Center, we guarantee you'll want to spend a few more days in town. 

Preservation efforts have kept Old Beaufort much as it was when the town was incorporated in 1723. Most of the restored buildings you see were moved to the historic site from other locations in town. These moves were necessitated in many cases by property owners who were ready to tear down an old structure to build a new one. So visitors can get the most out of their tour, BHA has restored and preserved the buildings as authentically as possible. The collections and furnishings help interpret a particular period in the building’s history. Guided walking tours of the buildings (we describe some of them here) are conducted four times a day Monday through Saturday year round for $6 per adult and $4 for children.

Josiah Bell House is the large yellow house with side gardens that is often photographed to represent the site. Built between 1790 and the early 1800s and purchased by Josiah Bell in 1842, its interior reflects the opulent Victorian era. 

Samuel Leffers Cottage, c.1778, was once the schoolmaster's house. It is furnished in a primitive style and features a distinctive Beaufort-type roof line.

The Bell/Manson House was the first building purchased by the Beaufort Historical Association in the 1960s. Currently undergoing a major restoration project, the house will soon reopen for tours as an example of the Federal Period in Beaufort. 

The Carteret County Courthouse of 1796 has been completely restored to its original condition. It is the only 18th-century framed courthouse of its size in North Carolina that has been restored or is in a condition which would allow restoration. The courthouse serves as an invaluable educational tool, according to BHA staff, helping show the transformation of the legal system in North Carolina. The authentic preservation project won several local, state and national awards.

Old County Jail, c.1829, has two cells and jail keeper's quarters, which were in use until 1954. There is a museum room in one of the cells. The Apothecary Shop and Doctor's Office, c.1859, features a fascinating collection of medical instruments and memorabilia from the county’s early doctors and dentists.

R. Rustell House, c.1732, is home to the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery. In its time, the building was a typical Beaufort cottage and was owned by prominent early citizen Richard Rustell Jr. The gallery operates year round and represents more than 100 local and regional artists.

After touring the historic site, hop on the vintage English double-decker bus for a terrific narrated tour of Beaufort's historic district (an area much larger than the historic site). The tour comes complete with stories about town residents who colored local history. Bus tours depart the historic site on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, April through October. Bus tour fees are $6 for adults and $4 for kids. Reservations must be made for group tours. 

Don't miss the Old Burying Ground, the cemetery on Ann Street, which dates from 1731. BHA gives narrated tours of the grounds Tuesday and Thursday (fees are $5 for adults and $3 for children), June through September. But you may take the tour on your own, using a map available at the Safrit Historical Center. Check our Area Overview chapter for more information on the Old Burying Ground.

In addition to these activities, the Beaufort Historical Association conducts the fabulous annual Beaufort Old Homes Tour during the last full weekend in June (see our Annual Events chapter). Activities include tours of private and association-owned homes and gardens, musical performances, an antiques show and sale, military re-enactments and more. 

In case you decide you just can't leave, you may volunteer for a multitude of involvements in coastal history at the Beaufort Historic Site (see our Volunteer Opportunities chapter). The Beaufort Historical Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, education and the preservation of Carteret County's significant history. Memberships are welcomed.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret all aspects of the state’s rich maritime heritage through educational exhibits, programs and field trips. Exhibits and programming focus on North Carolina’s maritime history and coastal natural history.

The museum is located at 315 Front Street in Beaufort in an area immediately adjacent to shops, restaurants and the boardwalk along Taylors Creek. The 18,000-square-foot building is constructed of wood, and some of its design features resemble those of the early life-saving stations that were prevalent along the Carolina coast. Public areas, in addition to the exhibit hall, include an auditorium, reference library and museum store. 

In the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center, located directly across the street, visitors can watch boat restoration and construction from a platform above the boat shop floor. In the John S. MacCormack Model Shop, builders construct scale models of a variety of vessels. Classes in boat-building skills are offered for novices and experienced woodworkers alike. Topics include: lofting, boatbuilding carpentry, boat modeling for children, diesel maintenance, plane making and others. Class size is limited, and all tools and materials are provided. Classes are generally offered on the weekends. 

Museum exhibits include Coastal Marine Life, North Carolina’s Working Watercraft, U.S. Lifesaving Service and Commercial Fishing. Displayed are a typical 1950s outboard motor shop and outboards, ship models, fossil and shell collections, an observation bell, coastal plant and animal life exhibits, indigenous watercraft and more. The museum’s library is available for reading and research. 

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